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janardian - 5/26/2018 11:52:23 PM

Hi everyone, I have 2 questions about cutting CF preperg: 
1) what would be the best way to cut complex shapes out of an uncured CF prepreg sheet? I have access to kevlar scissors and an electric shear, but they aren't ideal when I'm trying to cut inclusions within the fiber (let's say like cutting a donut in the fiber - cutting a hole in the middle is difficult with shears). Is there anything like a boxcutter for CF prepreg? 

2) For post cure cutting of a laminate/part, what would be the best or least damaging way to cut its shape, without compromising on structural properties? Currently using a dremel saw max with a diamond blade, does a decent job but my part delaminated under loading, so was wondering if there was anything better (like water jet maybe?)

Thanks!

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scottracing - 5/28/2018 6:49:57 PM

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janardian - 5/26/2018 11:52:23 PM

Hi everyone, I have 2 questions about cutting CF preperg: 
1) what would be the best way to cut complex shapes out of an uncured CF prepreg sheet? I have access to kevlar scissors and an electric shear, but they aren't ideal when I'm trying to cut inclusions within the fiber (let's say like cutting a donut in the fiber - cutting a hole in the middle is difficult with shears). Is there anything like a boxcutter for CF prepreg? 

2) For post cure cutting of a laminate/part, what would be the best or least damaging way to cut its shape, without compromising on structural properties? Currently using a dremel saw max with a diamond blade, does a decent job but my part delaminated under loading, so was wondering if there was anything better (like water jet maybe?)

Thanks!

If you are looking at manual cutting of plies i never use shears. Ive always used stanley knives and Pizza cutters for nearly all my laminating work. If you want to get it cut on a machine find someone with a cnc ply cutting table. This rolls out the material onto a vacumm table and is cut with a drag knive and sometimes an ultrasonic knife.

For cutting cured components, carbide is the only way to get a nice clean cut. Have a look at the perma-grit tools that easy composites sell.
Once you are close to the trim edge, good old wet and dry sandpaper and sanding blocks and sanding bobbins on a dremel (air tools are better) will get you to what you want.

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Hanaldo - 5/28/2018 11:26:04 PM

Good quality blades don't dull that quickly. You'll cut dozens of metres on the same blade before it dulls. Just get one with the snap off sections and it will last you for a long time.